Ronald McDonald was McDonald's red-haired clown mascot introduced nationally in the 1960s.
The character first appeared in television advertising in 1963 and quickly became the public face of the company's family-oriented branding. His costume used the restaurant's visual language, including red and yellow, while his clown identity made him easy for children to recognize.
Ronald was later surrounded by the larger McDonaldland cast, but he remained the principal mascot. His presence extended across commercials, restaurant appearances, charity events, packaging, and promotional materials. The character was also associated with Ronald McDonald House Charities, established separately as a nonprofit organization in 1984.
The date can cause confusion because McDonald's had earlier advertising characters, including Speedee. Ronald did not replace every earlier brand symbol at once, but his national visibility made him the company's most durable character-based branding asset.